1. Out of Sight, Out of Time: One of the things I most admire about this series is that it allows Cammie and the other characters grow, maturing with the plots growing increasingly dark as they grow. This would be one of those instances as Cammie has gone on the run from the terrorist organization, The Circle. The summer is over and Cammie doesn’t remember any of it, she has amnesia. And a good tip has it that she’s been in the Circle’s control during her blackout, she may have killed for them or against them. It’s a lot o trauma and questions for Cammie ontop of an old frenemy coming back from the dead and more secrets of The Circle’s endgame being revealed. It’s just an awesome book.

2. Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover: I’d this is when the stakes begin to really amp up for the series as Cammie’s friend, Macey is kidnapped and retrieved but spies are still after her. Questions surrounding the Circle begin to get investigated and the Academy continues to deal with the aftermath of betrayal and when that turncoat returns, whether or not to trust them. Not to mention, we see more of Cammie’s family and the return of Zach whose role in this whole drama is subtly froshadowed.

3. United We Spy: This thrilling finale delivers full circle as it details the origins of Ginny Ghallagher and her academy and high-octane chase for The Circle members. Instead of having the protagonists continue to hide and play defense, the previous book’s ending flips the tables giving information for the Ghallagher girls to hunt down the current members of the Circle to spot their plans for world destruction. It allows for each character to have their moments to shine as well as a chance for Cammie and Zach to face their demons head on. It all feels very triumphant as Cammie finally finds her way in the spy world.

4. Only the Good Spy Young: The third book centers around a betrayal that delivers a jaw-dropping twist that’s a true punch to the heart considering who does it. I actually feel I can’t say more because so much happens that it all feels spoilery.

5. Cross Your Heart and Hope to Spy: The second book of the series introduces Zach and the Blackthorn boys which provide similar heartthrob cliches of Cammie learning to get over Josh and fall in love again but is more interesting as Zach’s potential of being a double-crossing spy trying to use Cammie to gain access to the security system and scrapegoat provides endless tension in all their dealings.

6. I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You: The beginning of Ghallagher Girls’ premise is exciting as Carter describes the hi-tech, jijustu fighting, espionage training of the school. But the plot of Cammie falling for a regular boy while struggling to hide the truth of her schooling is a bit cliche. It’s fun to see Cammie and her friends use spy techniques for some mundane high school stalking though but the rest of the series delivers a better balance of spying and character growth here. However, I will commend it as this first heartbreak is Cammie’s first brush with the difficult life/duty of spying that will continue to reoccur throughout.